Strengths:
-Has very good size at 6-11, possibly 7-0, with extremely long arms
-Improved frame
-High basketball IQ and excellent skill-level for a big man
-Can score with his back to the basket. Decent footwork and nice range on jump-hook
-Finishes with both hands around the rim
-Can make a mid-range jumper
-Good passer
-Presence inside the paint defensively thanks to long wingspan
-Terrific rebounder at this level of competition (14.1 per-40 at NIJT)

Weaknesses:
-Below average athlete. Lacks quickness and explosiveness in a serious way
-Poor open floor speed
-Struggles to finish around the rim in traffic due to limited leaping ability. Rarely dunks the ball
-Effort level can be questionable at times. Not a fiery or intense personality. Lets smaller players take loose balls right out of his hands at times
-Lacks toughness inside the paint. Doesn't seem to love contact
-57% FT% at NIJT. 42% in Serbian league
-Doesn't always show up in the big games

Outlook: One of the best prospects in his age group in Europe. Big man with superb length and a very high skill-level. Has done a good job adding weight to his once-skinny frame. A relatively poor athlete who may struggle to translate his dominance at the junior level versus men. Disappeared once again when his team needed him most in a crucial game (last year versus Rytas, this year versus Joventut). Still early in his development, but will likely need to improve toughness to overcome his average athleticism and become a legitimate NBA big man. [Read Full Article]Nike International Junior Tournament Istanbul Scouting ReportsMay 17, 2012Jonathan Givony

-Not a very physical player. Needs to get tougher
-Gives up deep position in post. Doesn't like fighting with stronger big men
-Can't always establish good position offensively. Needs to continue to get stronger
-Average defensive rebounder
-Missing some character?
-Doesn't always look like he's giving 100%?

Outlook:

Has significant upside with his size, length, mobility and skill-level. Needs to get tougher both physically and mentally. Still at a very early stage of his development. A prospect to follow closely to see how he develops. [Read Full Article]Jordan Brand Classic International Game: Top ProspectsApril 20, 2011Jonathan Givony

Dusan Ristic was one of the few players we were already familiar with coming into this event. He did nothing to change our opinion that he has a very bright future ahead of him, winning co-MVP honors and putting up an impressive 22 points and 12 rebounds.

Ristic stood out immediately at the first practice with his high skill-level, excellent basketball IQ and strong fundamentals. He picked up everything that was thrown at him and played with a smooth, under control demeanor. He scored in a variety of ways in the game: hook shots with either hand, soft mid-range jumpers and spin moves in the paint.

Ristic is only 15 years old. His body still has a lot of development to undergo, but his frame and his length leave plenty of room for optimism. In practice, he struggled at times with contact and needed to be reminded to box out and play with more of a mean streak, but in the game he had no problem asserting himself offensively. [Read Full Article]NIJT Belgrade Scouting Reports: Top ProspectsFebruary 25, 2011One of the youngest players at this tournament at just 15 years old, Dusan Ristic was nonetheless one of the most promising prospects we saw in Belgrade, and one we'll surely be talking more about down the road.

Standing 6-10 or possibly even 6-11 with outstanding length and a fantastic frame for a player his age, Ristic is a mobile big man who shows all the physical tools you look for at this stage. He has good hands, runs the floor well, and shows competitiveness and instincts that should serve him well as he progresses in his basketball career.

Mostly relegated to scoring off simple catch and finishes and offensive rebounds, Ristic is an unpolished player as you can probably imagine at this stage. He didn't always have the strength to operate effectively against big men as many as two years older than him, but put up a solid fight nonetheless, and showed a good feel for the game operating within his team's half-court offense.

It's still far too early to draw too many long-term conclusions about Ristic's future, but the early returns look promising. If he can continue to progress on and off the court over the next few years, FMP could have yet another very interesting player on their hands. [Read Full Article]